kness overhanging the sea, which was wonderfully smooth now, in spite
of the soft western breeze that was blowing; and at last the silence
seemed to have become perfectly profound. So silent were we that every
one started as my father said suddenly:

"Look here, boys, suppose I tell you a story."

The proposal was received with acclamation, and he lay back against the
cliff and related to us one of his old sea-going experiences, to the
very great delight of all.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

THE SMUGGLERS' LANDING.

After my father had finished his story it was arranged that watch should
be set, and the arrangement made was that Bob Chowne and I should take
the first spell, and it was to last as long as we liked--that is to say,
we were to watch until we were tired, and then call my father and
Bigley, who would watch for the rest of the night.

Bigley said he should not sleep, but he followed my father's example and
lay down, while in a few minutes his regular breathing told that he had
gone off; and before long, as Bob Chowne and I sat talking in a low
tone, we knew that my father was asleep as well.

And there we two lads sat on the shelf of rock listening to the sobbing
and sighing of the tide, and staring out to sea. Sometimes we talked in
a low voice about how uncomfortable some people would be about us, and
Bob said it was like my luck--that I had my father with me, while his
and Bigley Uggleston's would be in a terrible way.

"And a nice row there'll be about it," he said dolefully. "There never
was such an unlucky chap as I am."

"And Big?"

"Oh, Big! Pooh! His father never takes any notice about him."

Then we talked about the drilling, and the silver mine and my father's
success, and what a fine thing it was for me; and about school-days, and
what it would cost to get a new boat for old Jonas, and about Bob going
up to London to be a doctor; and we were prosing on, but this gave him a
chance to become a little animated.

"I don't want to be a doctor," he said fiercely; "but I'll serve some of
'em out if I'm obliged to be. I'll let them know!"

"What stuff!" I said. "Why, I should like to be a doctor, and if I was
I'd go in for being surgeon on board a ship."

"Why?" said Bob.

"So as to go all round the world, and see what there is to see."

"Ah!" said Bob, "I hadn't thought about that; but it isn't half so good
as having a mine of your own, as you'll have some day. I wish we could
cha